After two days of testimony, the prosecution of a former JROTC instructor at Mountain Grove High School accused of repeatedly assaulting two female students was unexpectedly halted.

New information surfaced, prompting a mistrial.

David Russell Long, 56, faced 16 felony charges at the mid-October trial, including use of a child in a sexual performance and multiple counts of statutory sodomy and sexual contact with a student by a teacher or school employee.

"We went to trial and we got through two days and we discovered a new statement by one of the alleged victims," said Wright County Prosecutor Jason MacPherson. "The defense requested and the judge granted a mistrial because of that."

MacPherson declined to describe the nature of the statement, only that it ought to have been provided to both the prosecution and defense in advance of the trial. Following the mistrial, the judge continued the bail for Long, who remains out of jail.

"It wasn't my fault, it wasn't defense's fault. I can't explain it. We should have had it and they should have had it," he said.

MacPherson added: "It was very discouraging and frustrating. A lot of effort was put in to have that happen."

Jason MacPherson(Photo11: File photo)

Long, who has a lengthy military history and spent a decade teaching JROTC courses at the high school, was charged in late 2016 when a student contacted the Mountain Grove Police Department with allegations she was engaged in a lengthy and sometimes violent relationship with her JROTC instructor.

Statements given by that student resulted in charges and prompted his arrest during a traffic stop in late 2016. A search of his vehicle uncovered multiple weapons, a tent, a bag of survival gear, camping fuel and a small amount of food.

According to court records, the student told police the relationship quickly escalated to oral, anal and vaginal intercourse. She said Long was demanding and refused to stop engaging in sexual activity that was unwanted and painful.

She told police she contracted herpes from Long and that his sexual demands included engaging in sadomasochistic behavior, the use of sex toys, bondage, role-playing and illegal drug use. She allegedly had sex with Long in his "marital" bed, his child's bed, his truck, a hotel, the woods and the high school.

The student told police Long instructed her to approach a "younger student he was interested in" and then took both girls on a hunting trip, gave them alcohol, asked them to take turns sitting on his lap and to make out with each other.

After police interviewed the second accuser, additional charges were filed.

The investigation prompted the Mountain Grove district to end Long's employment and, after his exit, the faltering JROTC program was discontinued. It had been plagued by low enrollment in recent years.

The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or JROTC, is a federal program sponsored by the U.S. military in middle and high schools. It emphasizes leadership development, physical fitness, citizenship, communication skills and discipline.

MacPherson, who is wrapping up the final weeks of his term, said the prosecutor's office is preparing to retry Long as early as Dec. 27. A new prosecutor, John Tyrrell, will take over at the start of 2019.

MacPherson acknowledged it's difficult to move into private practice knowing this case has not yet gone to trial. He said Tyrrell will have the option of appointing him, or someone else, as a special prosecutor.

"If the new prosecutor desires it, I'd be more than happy to come back and try it because I know it," he said. "I've been with it since the beginning."

The state auditor released a report Monday about noncompliant sex offenders.(Photo11: Missouri State Auditor's Office)